2023 NBA Draft Prospects

Catchall · Post #1 » by **Catchall** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 1:41 am

This upcoming draft really is loaded. Talent at the top is excellent, even generational, and the draft is deep with starter-level talent through nearly the end of the first round. If the Jazz play their cards right, they should be able to find multiple foundational pieces.

Centers: Victor Wembanyama (France), Dereck Lively (Duke), Kel'el Ware (Ore.), Kyle Filipowski ((Duke)

Forwards/Wings: Cam Whitmore (Villanova), Gregory Jackson (SC), Jarace Walker (Houston), Dillon Mitchell (Tex.), Baba Miller (FSU), Arthur Kaluma (Creighton)

Guards: Scoot Henderson (G-league), Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite), Ausar Thompson (Overtime Elite), Nick Smith Jr. (Ark.), Anthony Black (Ark.), Dariq Whitehead (Duke), Keyontae George (Baylor), Chris Livingston (UK)

bkohler · Post #2 » by **bkohler** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 2:17 am

Good chance the Jazz have at least 4 picks in this draft - I really hope that it lives up to its hype and we get even more talent emerging to join the fray.

WinterSoldier · Post #3 » by **WinterSoldier** » Fri Jul 22, 2022 2:40 am

I hope the Jazz get Scoot he looks like a stable/more skilled version of Westbrook. Also, I would combine as many picks as possible to trade up for Baba Miller he reminds me of a young Giannis.

Catchall · Post #4 » by **Catchall** » Sat Jul 23, 2022 4:36 am

Here are my early Top 20. Ideally, the Jazz would draft a player in each row:

Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, GG Jackson, Amen Thompson, Anthony Black,
Nick Smith, Cam Whitmore, Ausur Thompson, Keyonte George, Jarace Walker,
Dariq Whitehead, Baba Miller, Cason Wallace, Jordan Walsh, Arthur Kaluma,
Dereck Lively, Chris Livingston, Dillon Mitchell, Kel'el Ware, Gradey Dick

Catchall · Post #5 » by **Catchall** » Sat Jul 23, 2022 5:28 am

The more I watch GG Jackson, the more I think he could be a franchise player. I think he's going to get into the top 5. Outside of Victor, he could be the guy we want. Then get Anthony Black, Nick Smith or one of the Thompsons later in the lottery to be a lead guard.

pickIBL · Post #6 » by **pickIBL** » Thu Sep 1, 2022 10:25 pm

If he can't slide his feet and shoot the 3... don't draft him.

stitches · Post #7 » by **stitches** » Fri Sep 2, 2022 5:55 pm

Crunch 99 · Post #8 » by **Crunch 99** » Sat Sep 3, 2022 12:33 pm

The Victor Wembanyama Sweepstakes Power Rankings, after the Donovan Mitchell trade
https://sports.yahoo.com/the-victor-wembanyama-sweepstakes-power-rankings-after-the-donovan-mitchell-trade-170906883.html

The above article has the Jazz ranked the number two worst NBA team after the Donovan trade. That's probably too high, but we all believe there are more trades to come.

Part of me wants to see the new roster overachieve and surprise to the upside like the 42-40 Kirilenko-led team did. I will never get comfortable rooting for losses. I hope Coach Hardy can properly develop players while losing.

Catchall · Post #9 » by **Catchall** » Sat Sep 3, 2022 6:28 pm

I'm pretty keyed in on GG Jackson and Jarace Walker. Jazz need a 6'8" or 6'9" athletic forward who is dynamic and versatile enough for the Jazz to play through.

Dereck Lively, Kel'el Ware and Baba Miller are all worthwhile center prospects, and one of them might slip to the mid-late teens.

Catchall · Post #10 » by **Catchall** » Sat Sep 3, 2022 6:44 pm

Crunch 99 wrote:The Victor Wembanyama Sweepstakes Power Rankings, after the Donovan Mitchell trade
https://sports.yahoo.com/the-victor-wembanyama-sweepstakes-power-rankings-after-the-donovan-mitchell-trade-170906883.html

The above article has the Jazz ranked the number two worst NBA team after the Donovan trade. That's probably too high, but we all believe there are more trades to come.

Part of me wants to see the new roster overachieve and surprise to the upside like the 42-40 Kirilenko-led team did. I will never get comfortable rooting for losses. I hope Coach Hardy can properly develop players while at the same time not doing everything he can to win.

Jazz are probably like a 25 - 30-win Sacramento Kings team from a couple years ago -- e.g., Fox / Hield / Barnes / Holmes

When the Jazz were tanking back in 2013/14, they played their good, young players (Hayward, Kanter, Favors, Burks, Burke), but the bench gave them nothing. There was no way the Jazz were going to win games with their bench production.

If the Jazz play a bench unit with Bolmaro, THT, NAW, Vanderbilt and Kessler, that unit is going to have trouble scoring and will lose ground. I think the Jazz will rely on having a shallow bench to lose games.

Catchall · Post #11 » by **Catchall** » Sat Sep 3, 2022 8:11 pm

Jarace MF Walker

Watch on YouTube

Catchall · Post #12 » by **Catchall** » Sat Sep 3, 2022 8:20 pm

Chris Livingston, a versatile 6'6" wing headed to UK, is being underrated right now, imo. He'd be a great pick with either the T'wolves or Sixers' FRP. Tremendous value beginning in the late teens.

Watch on YouTube

;t=111s

mg · Post #13 » by mg » Sat Sep 3, 2022 8:55 pm

I think Anthony Black is being a bit underrated at this point.
He's one of those 6'-7" pre-injury Shaun Livingston/ sane Ben Simmons types that can do everything including handle the ball, rebound, block shots, defend and is an efficient scorer/shooter. He needs to put on a little weight but really has no major weaknesses. Incoming freshman at Arkansas. McDonald's All American. Played really well at the U18 Americas Championship.

Catchall · Post #14 » by **Catchall** » Sun Sep 4, 2022 3:52 am

mg wrote:I think Anthony Black is being a bit underrated at this point.
He's one of those 6'-7" pre-injury Shaun Livingston/ sane Ben Simmons types that can do everything including handle the ball, rebound, block shots, defend and is an efficient scorer/shooter. He needs to put on a little weight but really has no major weaknesses. Incoming freshman at Arkansas. McDonald's All American. Played really well at the U18 Americas Championship.

I really like him and think his ceiling is very high. I could see him go top 6 or 7. I just can't tell if he's really a franchise guy at this point. I do think he can probably be a lead guard. Whether he's that Lamelo or Cade-level team leader remains to be seen.

I would take him ahead of Cam Whitmore and Dariq Whitehead at this stage.

WinterSoldier · Post #15 » by **WinterSoldier** » Mon Sep 5, 2022 1:41 am

Catchall wrote:
mg wrote:I think Anthony Black is being a bit underrated at this point.
He's one of those 6'-7" pre-injury Shaun Livingston/ sane Ben Simmons types that can do everything including handle the ball, rebound, block shots, defend and is an efficient scorer/shooter. He needs to put on a little weight but really has no major weaknesses. Incoming freshman at Arkansas. McDonald's All American. Played really well at the U18 Americas Championship.

I really like him and think his ceiling is very high. I could see him go top 6 or 7. I just can't tell if he's really a franchise guy at this point. I do think he can probably be a lead guard. Whether he's that Lamelo or Cade-level team leader remains to be seen.

I would take him ahead of Cam Whitmore and Dariq Whitehead at this stage.

I would take him over Whitmore.
I would not take him over Whitehead he is one of the most complete prospects in this class. His only weakness is elite shooting, though his shot looks clean and has potential, he also isn't an elite athlete, but still he's a really good athlete.

Catchall · Post #16 » by **Catchall** » Mon Sep 5, 2022 2:00 am

WinterSoldier wrote:
Catchall wrote:
mg wrote:I think Anthony Black is being a bit underrated at this point.
He's one of those 6'-7" pre-injury Shaun Livingston/ sane Ben Simmons types that can do everything including handle the ball, rebound, block shots, defend and is an efficient scorer/shooter. He needs to put on a little weight but really has no major weaknesses. Incoming freshman at Arkansas. McDonald's All American. Played really well at the U18 Americas Championship.

I really like him and think his ceiling is very high. I could see him go top 6 or 7. I just can't tell if he's really a franchise guy at this point. I do think he can probably be a lead guard. Whether he's that Lamelo or Cade-level team leader remains to be seen.

I would take him ahead of Cam Whitmore and Dariq Whitehead at this stage.

I would take him over Whitmore.
I would not take him over Whitehead he is one of the most complete prospects in this class. His only weakness is elite shooting, though his shot looks clean and has potential, he also isn't an elite athlete, but still he's a really good athlete.

I think Whitehead is comparable to Mathurin with less athleticism, or he's comparable to Harrison Barnes (UNC) with less size. I'm not sold yet. The injury isn't going to help. I'm probably just as optimistic about Keyonte George as Whitehead at this stage. I think Whitehead could slip outside the top 8. I've been waiting to be proven wrong, but now it's not clear when he's going to play.

stitches · Post #17 » by **stitches** » Mon Sep 5, 2022 6:36 pm

Meet your next franchise center guys:

https://streamable.com/9eguud

Wemby healthy and back from injury, playing pre-season games in France.

Daddy 801 · Post #18 » by **Daddy 801** » Mon Sep 5, 2022 7:22 pm

stitches wrote:Meet your next franchise center guys:

https://streamable.com/9eguud

Wemby healthy and back from injury, playing pre-season games in France.

Most impressive part is the steal on the second to last play of that video.

WinterSoldier · Post #19 » by **WinterSoldier** » Mon Sep 5, 2022 8:40 pm

stitches wrote:Meet your next franchise center guys:

https://streamable.com/9eguud

Wemby healthy and back from injury, playing pre-season games in France.

You have to take him #1 if you get the pick, but his build terrifies me in the long run. The only player I can think of that really dominated with that build is Kareem, who might of been the best to play the game. Just about every other player that size dealt with terrible lingering injuries.

Catchall · Post #20 » by **Catchall** » Mon Sep 5, 2022 9:42 pm

WinterSoldier wrote:
stitches wrote:Meet your next franchise center guys:

https://streamable.com/9eguud

Wemby healthy and back from injury, playing pre-season games in France.

You have to take him #1 if you get the pick, but his build terrifies me in the long run. The only player I can think of that really dominated with that build is Kareem, who might of been the best to play the game. Just about every other player that size dealt with terrible lingering injuries.

There are also some comparisons to Ralph Sampson way back in the day. If I were the team that drafts him, I would work on his body as a priority, and I would limit his minutes overall to something like 25 for the first year or two.